Stay home or go to school?

When your child wakes up with a nagging bellyache, a bad headache or downright fatigue, do you keep him home? What about a fever, upset stomach with vomiting or a pink eyeball?

The latter three symptoms would most likely prompt a parent to keep Junior home, and rightfully so. Who wants to let her child spread the unfortunate wealth to the rest of the class or student body?

A friend who works as a daycare provider shared a handy list from the Caffeine and Kindergarten Facebook page. Set up in chart formation, it suggests with emojis “I need to stay home if …” and “I am ready to go back to school when I am …”

The stay-home symptoms include: a fever with a temperature of 100.4 or higher; vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours; a body rash with itchiness or a fever; head lice; an eye infection that itches, drains, crusts or is red; and a hospital stay or emergency visit. The return to school solutions include: 24 hours free of fever (with using fever-reducing medicine) or diarrhea; vomit free for a minimum of two solid meals; free from rash, itching or fever with doctor evaluation; treatment for lice with proof for school nurse; doctor evaluation for eye infection with note return to class; and release by a medical provider after ER treament or hospital stay.

The guide is a helpful one for parents asking that inevitable “Should I keep her home or not?” question. At the same time, mom usually knows best. Case in point, my daughter’s abdominal pain last week bordered on vomiting, but luckily never happened. Still, I erred on the side of caution and kept her home. Most schools give students a few days to catch up on missed work.

May the remainder of the school year stay illness-free — especially flu-free. Stay hydrated, sanitized and rested, everyone!